VISION FOR DETROIT
From a young age, Dr. Cleamon Moorer was driven by a profound sense of purpose instilled by his late mother, Mrs. Dorris Jean Moorer. She imparted upon him the importance of giving back and helping others access the vital care they need but cannot afford – a lesson that would shape the course of his life's work.
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Born with congenital cataracts in both eyes, Dr. Moorer faced a daunting challenge. By the age of 21, he was legally blind, and the necessary surgery carried a hefty $6,000 price tag in 1997 – a sum far beyond the means of his family. In a desperate bid, his beloved mother penned a heartfelt letter to the Grace Guild of Sinai-Grace Hospital, laying bare their plight. Miraculously, the Guild stepped in and covered the cost of the surgery that restored Dr. Moorer's vision.
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This act of kindness left an indelible mark on Dr. Moorer's heart, and his mother's parting words echoed like a clarion call: "Promise me you'll give back to the community, organizations, and others in Detroit, just as you were helped." A promise he wholeheartedly embraced, setting the stage for a remarkable journey.
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Fast forward 25 years, and the city of Detroit found itself in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Moorer's sister company, American Advantage Home Care, Inc. (AAHC), answered the call to serve, providing compassionate care to thousands of homebound patients in and around the city. Through this work, they uncovered a glaring need – a lack of resources, information, insurance coverage, and awareness surrounding eye care, particularly among the homebound community.
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Failure to address this issue threatened to exacerbate the already alarming rates of blindness and eye disease among Detroit residents. In 2022, driven by a deep-seated commitment to his mother's words and a burning desire to bridge this gap, Dr. Moorer spearheaded the development of a new not-for-profit offering, separate from AAHC, to work in tandem with a team of physicians and eye care professionals.
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Thus, Eye Care For Detroit, Inc. was born – a movement rooted in the belief that access to quality eye care should be a fundamental right, not a privilege. More than just an organization, it is a rallying cry, a network of dedicated individuals – physicians, eye care professionals, generous donors, dedicated staff, and a board of directors – united by a shared passion for safeguarding the eye health and well-being of Detroiters.
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The call to action is clear: join the movement by referring homebound patients or at-risk seniors, making a donation to support their eye care, volunteering as a healthcare or eye care professional, or spreading awareness about the importance of eye health and the invaluable work of Eye Care For Detroit.
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In the words of Dr. Moorer himself, "I care, you care, we all care about the Eye Care of Detroiters." Together, they are forging a clear path towards a future where no Detroiter, homebound or otherwise, is left behind in the pursuit of optimal eye health.
